“I’ve gone from being a little kid trying to hit things and thinking, ‘I’m so weak,’ to being a kid who thinks, ‘Actually, I’m all grown up and pretty strong.'”
Lyon designed the program as a mixed methods research project, recruiting survivors and working with them for eight weeks, with their progress measured by a psychologist and a gender expert.
Survivors who have completed Left Write Hook say it changed their lives.Credit: Joe Armao
The published evaluation found “improvements in PTSD symptoms, well-being, and general symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.”
Lyon was not surprised by the huge positive impact the pilot project had – a film recording of it was made by her colleague, the director and film and television lecturer Shannon Owen. The documentary will be shown at the Melbourne International Film Festival.
For Lyon, Left Write Hook is a very personal matter. “Boxing has become a metaphor for my recovery and my life as a survivor,” she wrote in her research paper.
“The positive impact boxing has had on my overall health and well-being has been phenomenal. I have met many other women like me and I have a strong desire to share stories of recovery, empowerment and hope, using writing and… boxing as a tool.”
Donna Lyon says boxing has helped her meet victims of child sexual abuse like herself.Credit: Joe Armao
Lyon believes that the “active mindfulness” element of sport allows survivors to confront long-held emotions and express them safely.
“Even though you may not feel comfortable, you’re striking, you’re moving and you’re expressing yourself. There’s a flow and an energy and a rhythm that comes naturally and leads to more power over time.”
She has set up a registered charity and spoken to philanthropists in the hope of scaling up the program to meet demand. The therapeutic impact of the program is being studied by clinical psychologist and researcher Dr Caitlin Hitchcock of the University of Melbourne, who is overseeing a two-year randomized controlled trial.
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Lauren, 31, was part of the pilot group and says the combination of creative expression and physical relaxation was a dramatic improvement over previous therapy.
“The progress I have made in the two years of this project is greater than in the last 15 years, and I have been under medical treatment for a long time,” she said.
Julie, 57, had never met another victim of child sexual abuse before she was persuaded to sign up to Left Write Hook. “Boxing and writing helped me become a different person,” she said.
